Today I celebrate the day that I deeply fell in love with the beauty of my country, Philippines. I was just so blessed to be able to work for the North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB), that a year ago, I got to experience Lakbay Norte 2. NPVB and Victory Liner Inc. took Lakbay Norte media participants through a balance of new heights and mix of traditional tourist sites, cultural flavor and experiences with an opportunity to interact with representatives of the local Convention and Visitors Bureau, the local government and representatives of the Department of Tourism regional offices. I got to step foot, revisit and experience eight wonderful provinces of North Philippines through this familiarization tour.

Things I will never forget about Lakbay Norte 2:

1. The stress, tears, sleepless nights and hard work that the whole team experienced before, during and even after the trip. It was hard core preparation from endless sponsorship proposals, letters, advertisement designs to the itsy bitsiest detail just to make the trip happen.. All for the <3 of Philippine tourism.

2. That time when I flew like superwoman, in the rain while hanging on a zipline..

3. That time when we all got to taste that very expensive coffee, Alamid Coffee. Ingredients include a bear cat’s poop. Interesting!

4. Ate local and exotic delicacies in Pampanga. I survived the farm frog test. It tasted like chicken!

5. That experience in Pugad where I felt like a rock star driving recklessly an all terrain vehicle.

6. Those moments in the bus when we were all just singing to the songs being played in the radio. Filipinos love karaoke indeed!

7. Meeting a number of influential people in the government and in the field of tourism. That was both a humbling and a prestigious experience.

8. Chillin’ at the crater of Mt. Pinatubo: the most breathtaking view in North Philippines.

9. Ha! Being able to appear on television for an interview about the media tour. MOST MEMORABLE! <3

10. And I will never ever forget that rewarding feeling of getting to know my country more and truly falling in love with it… as if this trip was the first date. <3

Yesterday, the Lakbay Norte 3 commenced. Another group of media participants are currently experiencing the beauty and the FUN that North Philippines has to offer. I congratulate all of you, especially my former colleagues in NPVB: Allen Nava ( I am so proud that you have been doing well in covering my former position), Jes ,my operations manager and tag team, Sir Vince, Ms. Grace, Frances and the rest of the team this year. I believe it will be a successful tour once again. Rock it, guys!

It is indeed more FUN in the Philippines! <3

“‎You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”

— We Bought A Zoo (via whatisitabouthim)

(via followandreblog)

3 Months in FL

Counting the days here in Naples, FL… I can’t believe it has been three months already. It isn’t bad after all, especially I have my Filipina girls to back me up.

First day at work with Ice.

Welcome back! Miami White Party!

I was one of Santa’s reindeer at the Christmas Lighting event.

Wine and dine off with them girls.

With my Florida sisters on a random day at the mall.

Pinoy pride for Pacman’s fight.

Gone insane with our Brazilian hotties.

We got our skates on one winter night.

Merry 2011 Christmas!!!

Cheers to 2012!!!

First clubbing experience in FL.

And… a break from all the shopping we did in the last 3 months.

I am grateful for I have my Filipina girls with me in this journey. Time flies really fast. More than anything else, I am looking forward to making this friendship not only last till the end of Winter, but forever. <3

“What differentiates the Philippines from every [other place] in the world, as we said from the start, is the Filipino. [It’s] his special gift for transforming what is already a beautiful place into an unforgettable special place. You take two identical islands, put Filipinos in one, it’s going to be more fun there.”

— Mon Jimenez, Department of Tourism Secretarty, Philippines

Love life? Help Save Lives!

I was browsing through the online stores of Tiffany & Co., Guess, Fossil, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Forever 21, VS, Sony, Apple and the list goes on. I was trying to get myself a post-Christmas gift. Then I realized for the past 8 months, I have given myself so many treats that I don’t really need. From my travels to my nights out to my new clothes to my purses and alike… I don’t regret those because they made me happy. I just think that I should start investing more on things that could last forever. I should start investing on the lives of the children of our future. I have always wanted to be a part of the United Nations. It is actually my ultimate dream to work for the organization. And since I am a lover of life, I am taking this step of commitment. A lot of children around the world die from hunger or abuse. We can help prevent this. I don’t intend to brag about this personal advocacy. I encourage everyone instead to join me in saving children’s lives in whatever way. It will surely make a difference. <3

On another note, I am also going to try to quit a bad vice so I may be able to give more. This could be a New Year’s resolution as well? Hmm… Let’s see! I can do this!

God bless us all.

“We spend most of the year consumed by school and career and, yes, even the crazy pursuit of romance when all around us, love abounds. Love is the person who walked you through your messy breakup. The person who held your hand in the hospital. The person who read your blog and told you that you were making a difference. Love is the person who believed in you even when you couldn’t seem to believe in yourself. The person who took you to that incredibly fancy dinner place just so they could spend some time with you. The person who remained on your side when everyone else jumped ship. The person — the people — who went out and actually did life together with you. And though they may seem like mere flesh, bone, and blood, the heartbeat that steps alongside your own is always, always, a miracle. Nothing less.”

—

Merry Christmas! :)

(via themorninglight)

(Source: everyday-isa.com, via themorninglight)

“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.”

— Paulo Coelho | The Alchemist (via blogut)

(via quote-book)

(Source: driftingintospace, via andieigengirl)

I said all I wanted for Christmas is for my dad to be healed. He is better now, undergoing therapy. I am grateful for that. I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I have one more wish: that all may come together for the recovery of the Sendong Typhoon victims in Mindanao, Philippines.

I said all I wanted for Christmas is for my dad to be healed. He is better now, undergoing therapy. I am grateful for that. I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I have one more wish: that all may come together for the recovery of the Sendong Typhoon victims in Mindanao, Philippines.

(Source: twistedfork, via followandreblog)

“Romance serves a purpose. It’s a meditative state. It puts logic to sleep so that people can come together. Otherwise, you guys probably wouldn’t risk it. Love is big. It’s a bright light in the universe. And a bright light casts a big shadow.”

— God (Joan of Arcadia)

(Source: stateofabstraction, via themorninglight)